Efficient Synthesis of 6-(1H-1,2,4-Triazol-1-yl)-thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4(3H)-ones via an Iminophosphorane

Ethyl 2-amino-4-methyl-5-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)thiophene-3-carboxylate 2, obtained from Gewald reaction of 1-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)acetone 1 with ethyl cyanoacetate and sulfur, was transferred into iminophosphorane 3. Further reaction of 3 with aromatic isocyanates gave carbodiimides 4, which were treated subsequently with a secondary amine to give 6-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4(3H)-ones 6 in good yields in the presence of a catalytic amount of sodium ethoxide.